Some area beaches safe after closures from bacteria

EVERETT — It’s OK now to go swimming and wading at Langus Park, Rotary Park and off Jetty Island.

Thursday’s deluge of rain resulted in the closure Friday of those beaches along with the Howarth Park and Pigeon Creek Park beaches, which remain closed. Water sample results taken Saturday are to be available on Sunday.

The rain and heavy use of storm drains caused some sewer overflow, city officials said Friday.

The results of water quality samples taken Friday show that the water has returned to normal levels at Langus, Rotary and Jetty Island parks.

The city also notified the state health and ecology departments, the Snohomish Health District and Port of Everett about the spill.

Everett’s sewer system collects rainwater runoff, domestic sewage and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. Under normal operation, the combined sewer system conveys all of the wastewater to the Everett water pollution control facility, where it is treated and then discharged to either the Snohomish River or Port Gardner. During periods of heavy rainfall, however, the wastewater volume in a combined sewer system can exceed the capacity of the sewer system. For this reason, the combined sewer system is designed to overflow occasionally and discharge directly to the Snohomish River or Port Gardner. Combined sewer overflows contain bacteria and pathogens that could make people sick if they swallow water.